Manchester City have decided to punish Manchester United's supporters for failing to comply with safety regulations during last season's derby matches at Eastlands by reducing their ticket allocation for when the two rivals renew hostilities next month.

City are withholding 10% of the usual 2,846 allocation after complaints of persistent standing in the away enclosure when United beat them 1-0 in the league in April. There were also problems in the Carling Cup semi-final in January and, looking ahead to the game on 10 November, City have decided to close off the front two rows of seats to demonstrate they will not tolerate these repeated breaches.

Similar complaints against United's supporters have already led to reduced ticket allocations for their away games against Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers this season and City and a number of other clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, have taken similar action against them in previous years.

United have been trying to spread the message to their away fans that they need to adhere to the rules and they will not take issue with City's stance.